Article feeder for can making machines



W. F. BUTLER ARTICLE FEEDER FOR CAN MAKING MACHINES Original Filed June 23, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 27 r as Ez T1 #5 3 INVENTOR i wiliw x? w 'BYSYIM. U2.

ATTORNEYS Oct. '10, 1,939. w. F. BUTLER 2,175,177

ARTICLE FEEDER FOR CAN MAKING MACHINES Original Filed June 23, 1933 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 @NVENTOR A a m ar-4 1Q.

my. ATTORNEYS Patented 0.... 10, 1939 juNirsn STATES 7 2,115,111 ARTICLE FEEDER. ron CAN MAKING MAC HINES William F. Butler, Hillside, s. 1., assignor to American Can Company, New York, 15121., a

corporation of New Jersey Original application June 23, 1933, Serial No.

672,323. Divided and this application November 14, 1935, :Serial No. 49,838

Claims. (01. 193-33) The present. invention relates to container or can making machines and has particular reference to mechanism for feeding articles such as 'can parts and for inverting'or turning the articles over while they are being fed. This is a division of my United States Patent No. 2,085,001, issued June 29, 1937, on Flange curling machine.

The-invention contemplates the provision of a mechanism which may be utilized as a part of a can machine and which receives the can parts in one position and reverses or turns them over 'so that they are in proper reversed position for a subsequent operation, it being convenient in many associated canmanufacturing operations 15 to have the can parts inone position for the first operation and in a reversed position for a succeeding operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for receiving can parts in one position and for delivering them into a can making machine or the .like, the while inverting or turning them over.

Another object is the provision of devices of this character for feeding the can parts into and out of the inverting or turn over element in time with themovement of the latter.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following, description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment 7 thereof.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a mechanism embody- 85 ing the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the mechanism taken substantially along the broken line 2--2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

The mechanism of the instant invention is 45 adapted to handle such' articles as metal sheets, can body blanks, partially formed bodies, can ends, and the like. In the manufacture of such articles, as for example, can ends, which are usually formed in a drawing press, it most 50 convenient to draw the central panel of the ends upwardly in an inverted position. However, for subsequent operations on the ends such as a curling or other operation, it is most convenient to have the ends right side up. Therefore, for

an the purposes of this specification oblong can ends 2| (Fig. 1) are used as .an exemplary. form of article to be operated on by the instant mechae msm.

In the mechanism disclosed in the drawings as a preferred embodiment of the present inven- 5 tion, the oblong can ends 2| are received in the upper end of an inclined chute 22 (Figs. 2 and 3) located at one end of the mechanism. This chute is preferably mounted upon a bracket extension 23 of a frame 24 which may be the main frame of a curling machine. An intermittently movable turnover wheel 25 is carried on a horizontal shaft 26 journaled in bearings 21 formed in the frame bracket 23 and this turnover wheel is directly'below the discharge or lower end of the chute 22.

The can ends 2| move by gravity in a line down the'chute 22, the line of ends being held in the chute by yielding devices 28 which engage the lowermost can end at a station A (Fig. 2).

These ends are all faced the same way as they rest in processional'order in the chute and where they are coming direct from a drawing and end forming'press their central panel sections are faced upwardly as shown. In this position they will be inserted into the turnover wheel 25 and turned over.

The turnover wheel 25 comprises a pair of spaced discs 3| (Figs. 1 and 2) which are held on the shaft 26 by setscrews 30. This construc- 30 tion permits movement or adjustment of the discs on the, shaft so that they may be setto accommodate different sizes of can ends. The inner face of each disc 3| is cut across with grooves 32 which extend from the periphery of 3 the disc generally toward the center but ofiset a slight distance. The outer or peripheral end of each groove flares outwardly at 33, these groove ends in each disc being equally spaced around" its periphery. A pair of flared groove mouths o 33, one on each disc, are brought into register (at a station B) with the lower discharge end of the chute-.22 at each rest period of the tumover wheel. a

The discs 3| are moved as their supporting. shaft. 26 isintermittently rotated in a' clockwise direction as viewed in Fig.2, and at each movement 8. new pair of. grooves 32 is presented to the discharge end of the chute (station B). Feed-I.-

. ing devices 35 operate when the discs 3| are at rest to move the lowermost can end 2| from itsheld position within the yielding devices 28 (Sta-- tion A) and to insert itinto the aligned grooves at station 3.

. The top part of the frame 24 is formed as a horizontal table 36 (Figs. 1 and 3) and it is along this table that the can ends are moved after they have been turned over by the discs 3|. In this turn-over operation the can end 2| fed into the grooves 32 of the discs 3| at station B, is carried up and over in two succeeding step movements of the discs through two idle stations C and D and at the third step movement is brought into its third position of rest at a station marked E in Fig. 2.

The end is now in a horizontal position and is in substantial alignment with the top of the table 36. In the three stepmovements just described the can end has been turned over from the inclined position with its panel face up into horizontal position with its panel face down.

Transfer devices 4| (Fig. 2) operate in a horizontal plane and along the table 36 to remove the turned-over end from the discs 3| at the station E and to advance it into .the curling machine or other device. Referring more in detail to the drawings, the

- feeding chute 22 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is preferably formed by a pair of spaced blocks 55 each of which is secured by bolts 56 to the bracket 23. These blocks are movable oradjustable on the bracket 23 for different sizes of can ends and when bolted in position they are separated a distance slightly in excess of the drawn central panel (designated by the numeral 51) of the end 2|. The panel of each end is surrounded by an outwardly extending flange (marked 58).

A grooved guide rail 59 is mounted on each block 55 adjacent its inner edge and opposite sides of the flange 58 of the ends pass into and move along these grooves as the ends slide by gravity down the inclined chute. It is the lowermost can end of the line of ends in the chute that is engaged by the yielding devices 28, as

previously described.

These yielding devices comprise fingers 6| which are carried on pivot screws 62 threaded into the blocks 55 adjacent their upper surfaces. The lower end of each finger 6| is held in the path of travel "of the can ends by a leaf spring 63 which is secured to a projection 64 extending outwardly from the surface of the block. The spring engages the finger near its pivot screw 62. The upper end of each finger 6| when holding a can end rests against the end of an adjusting screw 65 which is threaded into the projection 64 and which may be adiusted to .position the lower end of its associated finger. A small block 66 is secured upon the upper face of each block 55 and provides a guide for the can end as it moves from the chute.

The feeding device 35 for moving the lowermost can end from the chute and for. placing it into the turnover wheel 25 is best shown in Fig.

2. This feeding device comprises a finger II which is mounted 'on a pivot pin I2 carried in a hollow block 13 which slides up and down on an inclined strap-II. The strap is secured at its upperend to the bracket 23 by a bolt 16 and at its lower end to the table 16 by a-bolt l6.

Strap. 14 is located'beneath and centrally of the can end travel through the chute and its upper end extends to a point beyond or above the pivoted fingers 6|. The lower end of the strap is formed with a collar-section I1 (Figs. 1 and 2) which encircles the shaft 26 intermediate the discs 3|. v i

Movement of the block 13 to its upper or raised position arranges its finger II under the lowermost cover 2|. A leaf spring I6 carried in the move back against the action connected by a pin 8| section has the same general inverted T block and resting under the finger yieldingly moves it into position for engagement with the larger vertical wall of the end panel 51 at such a The block I3 and the finger II are now moved down or into their lowered position to effect the removal of the engaged can end 2| from the chute. In this movement the can end is forced between and past the lower ends of the fingers 6| which of their springs 63 and permit the can end to pass between the blocks 66 and into apair. of presented grooves 32 of the turnover discs 3|. The springs 63 move the fingers 6| moves past them, which action holds back the remainder of the line of can ends.

To effect this up and down movement of the block 73 on the strap 14 the block is pivotally to the upper end of a bent connecting strap 82 (Figs. 2 and 3). This strap 82 is pivoted at 83 to an outer arm 84 of a compoundcrank arm 85 formed on one end of a horizontal shaft 86. The shaft 86 is 'journaled in bearing 81 formed in the frame 24 and supports a spur gear 88 which may be a main driving gear or may be a gear driven from and in time with the main driving mechanism of the curling machine.

Rotation of the gear 88 is transmitted to the shaft 86 which in turn carries the crank arm 85 around and this actuates the block I3 and its finger II for a feeding stroke while the intermittently rotated turnover wheel 25 is at rest.

The intermittent actuation of the' turnover wheel 25 is effected by means of devices which impart step rotation to the shaft 26 in the following manner. The shaft 26'carries a sprocket I05 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) over which a chain I06 operates. This chain also passes over a sprocket I01 which rotates on a Geneva wheel stationary shaft I08 fixed in a bearing I09 formed in the frame 24.

The sprocket I01 is secured to or is an integral part of a Geneva wheel II5 which is intermittently rotated on the shaft I08 by a roller I I6 (Fig. 4) engaging in radial slots III formed in the Geneva wheel. The roller 6 is mounted on a pin II8 extending outwardly from one face of the gear 88. The hub of the gear 88, designated by the numeral H9, is cut away at I2| to permit movement of the Geneva wheel II5 by engagement of the roller I I6 within each slot III.

The uncut part of this hub I I9 provides for the locking of the Geneva wheel on its rest period by rotating within pockets I22 formed in the wheel, this being a usual Geneva unit construction. By the described connection, the continual rotation of the shaft 86 is imparted as an intermittent movement to the shaft 26 and the latter advances the turnover discs 3| in a step by step movement to turn over a can end carriedtherein and to bring it to a horizontal position opposite the table 36 at the station E.

Removal of the can -end from the turnover wheel 25 by the transfer devices 4| now follows. .A'feed bar I25 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is provided as part of such devices. This feed bar moves back and forth in a longitudinal inverted T shaped slot I 26 formed in the table 86. The bar in cross shaped form as the slot, which form holds it against upward displacement in the slot.

As the turnover wheel brings the can end 2| into its horizontal position. at station E, the feed bar is in its rear position '(Fig, 2). A fixed finger I3I is formed on the rear end of the feed bar inwardly as soon as the can end and projects upwardly above the surface of the table. This finger I3I is behind the can end as it comes to rest in station E.

While the turnover wheel remains stationary on its period of rest (Figs. 2 and 3) the feed bar moves forward and the finger I3I, engaging the can end, slides it out of its grooves 32 and over the surface of the table 38.

To effect this feeding movement the feed bar I25 at its rear end has rack teeth I32 cut in its lower face. These teeth are engaged by 'a segmental rack I33 formed on the upper end of an arm I34 which is secured to a rock shaft I35 (Figs. 2 and 3). Shaft I35 is mounted in a boss Informed in the frame 24. The arm I34 is cut out inits central section to provide a rectangular opening I31 i I The compound crank extends through the opening I31, the rear part being connected with.

the outer arm 84 by a cylindrical section I38 (Fig. 3). A pair of split blocks I39 encircle andprovide a bearing for the cylindrical part I38 and' these have sliding movement within the opening I31 of the arm I34. As the double crank moves with the rotation of its shaft 86, the cylindrical part I38 of the arm is carried in a. circular short crank path, the pivot 83 of the strap 82 describing the full or long crank movement. It is these two movements that constitute the double crank action.

The short action causes the blocks I39 toslide up and down within the opening I31 and to transmit a rocking motion to the arm I34 with its rock shaft I35. The resulting rocking movement of the segmental rack I33, through the rack section I32 of the feed bar, moves the latter back and forth within its table slot I23. Thus the can ends are removed from the turnover wheel 28 and are advanced across the top of the table 33' toward the work performing elements of the curling machine. The ends are guided during this travel by spaced parallel guide rails I (Fig. 1) which are secured to the top of the table and are adjustable for different sizes of can ends.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material ad vantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:' V

1. An apparatus for handling articles such as can parts and the like, comprising in combination, a chute for said articles, spring controlled yieldable devices in said chute for holding said articles therein, a rotatable turnover wheel adiaw cent one end of said chute, reciprocating feedin devices for successively engaging and projecting 'said articles from said yielding, devices in said chute and for moving them into said turnover wheel, actuating means for rotating said tumover wheel for inverting the articles carried therein, reciprocating transfer devices for coni veying'the inverted articles from said turnover wheel, and a table located adjacent said turnover wheel for receiving said inverted articles.

2. An apparatus for handlingfianged can ends and the like, comprising in combination, a chute for flanged can end yielding devices in said chute for hoiding...said ends therein with one face of their flanges turned up, a rotatable turnover wheel located below said chute and formed of cooperating grooved discs, 9. pair of grooves being adapted to be brought into register with the discharge end of said chute, feed ing devices for first removingasaid can end from said chute by withdrawing it from said holding devices and then moving it into said positioned disc grooves, and actuating means for rotating said discs to carry their grooves up and over and to turn over' 10 said can end therein so that its opposite flange face is turned up.

3. An apparatus for handling flanged can ends and the like, comprising in combination, a chute for flanged can ends, yielding devices in said 15 chute for holding said ends therein with one face of their flanges turned up, a rotatable turnover wheel located below said chute and formed with cooperating grooved discs, a pair of grooves being adapted to be brought into register with the discharge end of said chute, feeding devices for first removing a said can end from said chute by withdrawing it from said holding devices and. then moving it into said positioned disc grooves,

a tablev locatedadjacent said turnover means, :5

actuating means for rotating said discs to carry their grooves up and over and to bring them in registration with the top of said table and to turn over said can end therein so thatits opposite flange face is turned up, and transfer dea vices for conveying said turned over can end from said disc grooves on to said table.-

4. An apparatus for handling flanged can ends and the like, comprising in combination, a chute for flanged can'ends, yielding devicesin said chute for holding said ends therein with one face of their flanges turned up, a rotatable turnover wheel located below said chute and provided with a shaft and cooperating grooved discs mounted on said shaft, a pair of grooves being adapted to be brought into register with the discharge end of said chute, a table located adjacent I said turnover wheel, feeding devices for first re- 4 moving said can end from said chute by withdrawing it from said holding devices and then a moving it into said positioned disc grooves, actuating means for intermittently rotating said turnover wheel shaft and discs to present a said. pair of grooves first to said chute for receiving the can end from said feeding devices and thence into register with the top of said table during which time the rotation of said turnover wheel turns over saidcarnend therein and turns D its opposite flange face, and means for adjustably securing said grooved discsonsaidshaftto permit their adjustment for different sizes of can ends.

5. An apparatus for handling articles such as can parts and the like, comprising incombination: a chute for said articles, spring controlled m yieldable devices in said chute for holding said articles therein, a rotatable turnover wheel adjacent one end of said chute. reciprocating feeding devices for successively engaging and pro jecting said articles from said yielding devices in said chute and for moving them into said tumover wheel, actuating means for rotating said turnover wheel for inverting the articles carried therein, and reciprocating transfer devices for conveying the inverted articles from said turnover wheel.

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